Heavyweight shooter
Time to flex those optical muscles
Pentax's transition from film to digital SLR photography didn't go as smoothly as some of its competitors. Somewhat of a letdown, really, considering the number of excellent lenses Pentax has produced over the years and the reputation it had built during the glory days of film.
The good news is that Pentax has now come out with the K10D, which appears to be a serious contender for market share. While it's still not full-frame, the K10D's 10.2 megapixel CCD sensor and splash- and dust-resistant body can now go against the likes of Canon's 30D and Nikon's D200, which currently enjoy near-absolute dominance of the SLR market.
The K10D is up to date with all the technological accoutrements of the latest batch of camera bodies, namely, a 2.5-inch LCD, an anti-dust sensor feature, and built-in Shake Reduction of up to four stops. Pro photographers will applaud Pentax's decision to ditch AA batteries in favor of a more practical (in the long run) lithium-ion rechargeable, and its ability to save RAW files either in Pentax's proprietary PEF or DNG (Adobe Photoshop format), is a step forward for the entire digital camera industry.
Serious hobbyists will also get a kick out of the K10D, which offers new options like a sensitivity mode (Sv) that allows you to dial in an ISO value that the aperture and shutter automatically adjusts to, and a TAv mode, which is the other way around – sort of like an auto-ISO mode. Newbies coming from point-and-shooters might find it pleasant that the K10D only accepts SD cards.
In the looks department, the K10D doesn't disappoint. Despite a plastic body, this one is like a tank. Users will appreciate the dedicated buttons, though poor button placement soon becomes evident (such as the white balance, flash, ISO and shooting mode adjustments all being found in the Fn button).
A huge improvement from previous models, the K10D on a whole will exceed most expectations, and a lot of fans will be glad at finally being able to buy a digital body worthy of Pentax's excellent lens collection. Vincent Coscolluela
PENTAX K10D | P64,995
www.pentax.com
TECH 10.2 megapixel CCD sensor. 2.5-inch LCD screen. Splash and dust resistant. Shake Reduction. 142x101x70mm. 717g.
LOVE Lots of unique options. Weatherproof body a boon for pro photographers.
HATE Cluttered button design. Poor noise performance at ISO 1600.
WE SAY If Pentax keeps this up, it might just win over new followers.
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T3 Magazine Philippines - April 2007 Issue
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 PENTAX K10D
In detail
The Pentax K10D sports a 10.2-megapixel sensor, a huge jump from the 6.1-megapixel CCD of the few-months-old K100D.
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